Event Information

Date and Time

Location

Description

The next DEF DenverDrink & Think will kick-off the new year in style on January 10th at 6 PM at Stanley Beer Hall in Aurora. We will start with an overview of DEF, followed by discussion of what MD5, the National Security Technology Accelerator is doing along the Front Range, courtesy of Regional Director Rachel Cheetham, with ample time for Q&A and networking afterwards.

MD5 is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) program office that collaborates with partners from major research universities and the venture community to provide solutions to the real-world problems of warfighters. Through it’s three portfolios, Education, Collaboration and Acceleration, MD5 offers programs and services that facilitate catalytic collisions between military innovators and non-traditional problem-solvers. As MD5’s Rocky Mountain Regional Director, Mrs. Cheetham engages with military customers and community partners in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, and the Dakotas to ensure the region’s best ideas, talent and technology are applied to critical problems of national security.

Previous to her role with MD5, Mrs. Cheetham served as the Chief of Staff at Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems where she worked with the executive team to coordinate strategy development and execution. Mrs. Cheetham received a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business and Economics from New Mexico State University and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado.

The Defense Entrepreneurs Forum (DEF) exists to promote a culture of innovation in the national security community. The mission of DEF is to "Inspire - Connect - Empower" and involves not only monthly gatherings around the world, but periodic DEFx events in different regions, a national conference each year, and ongoing collaboration via Slack, Facebook and LinkedIn. Our national programs include fellowship opportunties, writing initiativies and an internal think tank in which all members are welcome to participate. Drink & Think events are a foundational way of connecting the national security innovation community.

Interested in an external perspective of DEF? Check out this War on the Rocks article. Want to get involved? Anyone can join at bit.ly/DEFjoin to get free access to our online communities, national programs and more.

FAQs

Why should I register if this is a free event? Taking the couple minutes it takes to register helps the local DEF team to better prepare the space for everyone who plans on attending. Thanks in advance!

What are my transportation/parking options? Parking is available at at the venue.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions? Feel free to message DEF any questions you may have on Facebook in advance, or shoot us an email. We don't like spam, but are interested in just about anything else that falls into DEF lanes, so, when in doubt, reach out! We are, after all, about connecting people.